Former Councillor Ray Sams won the St Michael's by-election last night, beating both his main rivals from Labour and UKIP. After a campaign in which his opponents used negative tactics, Ray's upbeat message won the day when he secured 939 votes, almost 100 votes more than his nearest challenger.

Speaking after the result was announced at Bexley Civic Offices, Ray said"I served the people of St. Michael's for 8 years up to 2014. I am truly humbled to have a second chance to represent the residents of St. Michael's Ward again. I am a Welling man through and through, being born here and for many years running a business in the borough. .I promised I would be ready from day one to hit the ground running and I will not let residents down."

Councillor Teresa O'Neill OBE, Leader of the Council said"I am ecstatic to have Ray back on the Council and part of the Conservative team running Bexley. We fought an upbeat campaign and the result shows that residents responded to that. Our message was about keeping council tax as low as possible, maintaining good quality schools and  securing inward investment for our borough. In contrast our opponents went negative, talked down our borough and had no solutions of their own - fortunately they were resoundly rejected by the voters of St Michael's Ward."